Untitled Page

Mats Sundin News & Rumors

Sundin one of Leafs' greats ... just ask 'em
October 1
Toronto Sun
 columnist Mike Zeisberger
"Mats Sundin, Hall of Famer? You bet. Maybe on the first ballot. Have you ever heard of Clark Gillies or Bernie Federko, who already are immortalized inside the hallowed Hall? Case closed. Best Maple Leaf of all-time? Leading scorer or not, no one can definitively say that. Not with names like Keon, Sittler, Armstrong, Mahovlich, Salming, Apps and Kennedy in the mix, just to mention a few. Perhaps the aforementioned Darryl Sittler put it best yesterday when he heard the news of Sundin's retirement. "He is definitely ONE of the best to ever pull on a Leafs jersey," Sittler said. Brian Burke agrees. The Maple Leafs general manager confirmed the team will hold a ceremony to honour"
The Legacy of Sundin
October 1
Toronto Star
 columnist Damien Cox
"It was a different hockey world when Mats Sundin made history. His status as the first European ever selected No. 1 in the NHL draft back in 1989 was no small achievement, you should remember. Back then, Euros weren't necessarily seen as players that could be trusted to be franchise players despite the success players like Jari Kurri had already experienced. The Iron Curtain had yet to fall, so players from Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union were all but unreachable."
Mats Sundin announces his retirement from NHL
September 30
Vancouver Province
 
"Mats Sundin on Wednesday announced his retirement as a player, ending an 18-year career in the NHL. "It's a little sad to announce that my career as a professional hockey player is over," he told reporters at a press conference in Stockholm. "I would have loved to play until the age of 65, but as a hockey player you obviously retire a little earlier than that," added the 38-year-old, who began his NHL career with the Quebec Nordiques in 1990 after being drafted in the first round in 1989. The Swede moved to the Toroto Maple Leafs in 1994 and three years later became the team's first European captain when he succeeded Doug Gilmour, who left the club for the New Jersey Devils in a trade."
Mats Sundin Announces His Retirement
September 30
TSN.ca
 
"Mats Sundin has ended the speculation and has officially announced his retirement. The former Toronto Maple Leafs captain made the announcement around 6:40am eastern at a press conference in Sweden. "I don't know that there is any other player playing in the NHL that has had so much fun," said Sundin about his career in the NHL. (Answers translated from Swedish by Svenska Dogbladet reporter Janne Bengtsson) Sundin had fond words about his time in Toronto with the Maple Leafs. "Toronto held a place in my heart for 13 years," said Sundin. "It is, and will always be my second home and home away from home.""
Sundin calls it quits
September 30
Toronto Star
 
"Mats Sundin announced his retirement from hockey this morning, according to a media report from Sweden. The website for the Swedish Newspaper DN reports the former Leafs captain made the announcement at a news conference today."
Sundin finally makes a decision ... he's getting married! No decision date yet on return to the NHL
August 22
Vancouver Province
 
"As most hockey reporters now know, putting Mats Sundin and the word "deadline" in the same sentence is a risky proposition. But the big Swede's agent, J.P. Barry, said Thursday he hopes to get some clarity on whether Sundin will play this NHL season when he heads to Scandinavia to attend his client's wedding next week. The Sundin camp said earlier in the summer that a decision was hoped for by the end of July. Last season, Sundin dithered until mid-December before signing with Vancouver. Barry said he will travel to Sweden on Monday to get some sense as to whether the 38-year-old Sundin will continue his NHL career or retire. "I'm going to talk to him about his future when I get there,""
Sundin saga II? Just as long as it's not like last year
July 3
Vancouver Province
 
"Based on how Day 1 of free agency unfolded, it shouldn't be any surprise that Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis is talking seriously about trying to bring 38-year-old Mats Sundin back for another season. The kind of eye-popping deals being signed over the course of the day, with the dollar figures and terms being thrown around, simply didn't fit with Gillis's salary cap management model. With all the blue-chip forwards — both real and imagined — having been signed on Wednesday, it leaves the Canucks to look at other options. And, that's where Sundin comes in. Some in Canucks Nation will be groaning at this prospect, but take a look at it from Gillis's perspective. Sundin is a known quantity"